A Newbie’s Guide to Craft Beer

Craft beer is all the rage these days. Unless you live on the moon, you’ve probably at least heard the term.

But if you’re a true newbie, you may need a definition of what craft beer is.

In the simplest terms it is a beer made in a small brewery in a traditional or non-mechanized way.

According to the Brewer’s Association, a small brewery is one that doesn’t distribute more than six million barrels of beer a year.

A “traditional or non-mechanized way” means that the majority of the beer that is put out by the brewery has flavors that come from the fermentation of traditional or novel brewing ingredients.

“Regular” Beer generally has four main ingredients:

Grain, mainly malted barley

Hops, different kinds

Yeast, for fermentation

Water, about 95% of beer’s content

What’s the difference between beer and craft beer?

There are actually quite a few differences in how it’s made, how it’s consumed, and how it tastes.

Let’s take a look at some of the main contrasts:

Beer is made by large corporations. Craft beer is made by actual brewers.

Beer has a distinctive flavor that doesn’t really vary that much. Craft beer can have many, many different flavors.

Beer is usually served ice cold and consumed in large amounts. Craft beer is treated more like a gourmet meal. It’s poured into a glass and left to warm to just the right temperature. The color and clarity are carefully scrutinized and only then is the drink savored.

Beer is usually all the same straw color with minimal variances. Craft beer can run the gamut of colors from golden to very dark and varying shades in between.

The flavor factor

Flavor is subjective. The taste that you love may make others turn up their nose.

With all the “craft” that goes into craft beer, it’s no wonder that taste and flavor are paramount when assessing a brew.

Actually meet the people making your brew. Because of the nature of brewers who make craft beer, you can often visit and see the process as it happens.

If you’re interested in learning more about craft beer or sampling some, consider booking your spot at one of HideAway Country Inn’s craft beer dinners. Or stop in sometime to our 1938 Restaurant & Pub and try a few of our craft beers in our unique pub space.

Call us today to find out all we have to offer for our craft beer lovers!